Best goods from Hanoi on show in Moscow

Moscow (VNA) – The best goods from Hanoi are being showcased in Moscow with a view to benefiting both local consumers and Vietnamese businesses which want to seek partnerships in Russia.

The Hanoi Expo, opened at Hanoi-Moscow Trade Centre on September 9, is part of a Hanoi goods week in Moscow co-organised by Vietnam’s trade office in Russia, Hanoi’s centre for investment, trade and tourism promotion, and Moscow’s chamber of trade and industry.

Fifty companies from Vietnam have brought to the event hundreds of tonnes of typical commodities such as bamboo and rattan products, traditional toys, nature-origin cosmetics, farm produce, foods, apparel and leather footwear.

Organisers said the expo is held on the threshold of the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) free trade agreement, which will take effect on October 5. The deal will open up a 175-million-strong market for Vietnamese goods.

At a press conference on the expo, Vietnamese Trade Counsellor Duong Hoang Minh said Vietnam’s exports to Russia increased by 20 percent while its imports from the country rose by 48 percent in the first seven months of 2016.

Bilateral trade can reach 10 billion USD, or even 15-20 billion USD, by 2020 thanks to the trade pact, he forecasted.

After the Hanoi Expo concludes on September 18, a similar event will be held at the same venue from October 6-16 to introduce products from Ho Chi Minh City.-VNA